Ortiz couldn't fill hero's role this time

For a seven-game series in doubt until the final inning, the Red Sox put up some ghastly statistics in the American League Championship Series. The pitchers compiled a 5.94 ERA, with the starters alone at 6.88 despite a Game 1 shutout.

For a seven-game series in doubt until the final inning, the Red Sox put up some ghastly statistics in the American League Championship Series. The pitchers compiled a 5.94 ERA, with the starters alone at 6.88 despite a Game 1 shutout.

A total of 63 stranded runners, and 12-for-60 with men in scoring position. Jed Lowrie went 2-for-18. Jason Varitek went 1-for-20, and Jacoby Ellsbury 0-for-14.

Yet if there was one number that exemplifies why the Red Sox will be watching the World Series starting Wednesday night, it's .154 — David Ortiz's batting average against the Rays, who stymied him at nearly every turn.

"You have to give them credit. They pitch well, they play good defense. They got some big hits whenever they needed. That's how it goes," Ortiz said said. "Whoever plays best is the one who wins."

That certainly wasn't Ortiz, in part a victim of his own absurd success. This was not the worst postseason series of his career — he went 2-for-21 (.095) against the A's in 2003. That, however, was when he was just becoming "Big Papi," the mid-lineup anchor and league-wide menace.

Plus, Boston beat Oakland. Despite his rally fuel in the 8-7 classic at Fenway Park in Game 5, Ortiz failed to deliver a critical blow repeatedly in the ALCS, just the opposite of what he did last October with partner in crime Manny Ramirez.

Up three times with runners on base in Game 7, Ortiz struck out in the third, struck out again in the sixth as Dustin Pedroia was thrown out trying to steal second, and grounded out to second with two on in the eighth against J.P. Howell.

Baseball teams aren't one player, he's stressed through the struggles, but he could have changed so much by himself. Only Mark Kotsay (17) and Kevin Youkilis (16) batted with runners on as many times as Ortiz's 16.

Kotsay went without an RBI but delivered defensively, which is what he was brought here in August to do. Youkilis led the team in extra-base hits against Tampa while playing flawless at third.

Ortiz went from .370 during the 2007 title run to .186 this month with a slugging percentage lower than Coco Crisp's. When boos began trickling through before his Game 5 blast, he wasn't surprised.

He also wasn't concerned.

"I guess like sometimes, fans are not patient, and I understand that," he said. "When I go back to my house and I sit down and analyze what went wrong and I think about if I'm working hard, if I'm trying to do my thing, I know that I'm doing it. Things didn't work out the way I expect and the way everybody expect, I just tell myself, 'I'll get it tomorrow.'

"I saw Pedro Martinez getting booed. I saw Nomar (Garciaparra) getting booed. Those guys, they did it all here before, so I don't mind it."

Funny he should mention Garciaparra, whose career forever changed after a wrist injury. Tearing a tendon sheath in his wrist cost Ortiz seven weeks of playing time and unquestionable explosiveness at the plate.

Unable to drive balls he used to crush, he remains optimistic that an offseason of work can fix any lingering problems.

"I tried to work, man. I tried my best. It's not going to be roses and flowers all the time. Bad things happen, and you learn from them," he said. "Just going to try and get my hand stronger. Chill out for a minute and come back like I know how next year."

Time will tell, and should also rework the lineup significantly from Sunday's choices. Ortiz knows that if help is needed, he's on a team that's willing to do what it takes to get it.

The internal additions, he thinks, may almost mean more.

"Pretty sure Beckett will be ready to go next year. Mikey Lowell. Julio Lugo. Myself," Ortiz said. "Most of the time, they always go in the offseason and get some help. Which everybody needs, because everybody gets stronger."

He's eager to prove the same goes for him, and that his first season playing fewer than 140 games and hitting fewer than 35 homers since 2003 was just a bump in the road.

"It didn't work out. What can you do? Just come back ready next year," he said. "Everybody know that this ballclub this year, being here despite being hit by a lot of injuries, a lot of tough situations, and it's hard to move forward like that. But we did try."

Jon Couture covers the Red Sox for The Standard-Times. Contact him at jcouture@s-t.com